SAMHAIN
CRESCENT MOONSTONE CAULDRON 1995
tHERA BRID AMBER ARROW
White Spirit Candle Lit
This is the time of Samhain. The end of one year, the beginning of the next, yet not a part of either.
The Summer Lord has died in the harvest. At this twilight before the nighttime of winter, he passes over to Summerland, to rest and prepare for rebirth. The veil is thin, and through the wisdom of the Lady of Death and Rebirth, he holds the veil aside, that we may catch a glimpse through, though darkly.
Our loved ones, and those whom we honor who have gone on before, can draw near at this time. Those who are far away are nearer now, no longer separated by physical distance.
As we stand in the portal of Time and Space, which is our circle, we stand with our Kilth and Kin, circles within circles, ever spiraling, we touch, and turn, and move on. We stand together and turn the wheel; we stand together and honor our ancestors. And the wheel turns!
HPS: (ringing bell) (Light the Black Candle)
Be it Known, the Circle is about to be cast, the Temple is about to be erected. Let none remain here but of their own free will.
ALTAR CONSECRATION
HPS: I consecrate this Altar, in the names of the God and the Goddess that it may be a surface purified, a solid foundation for our worship and work, pleasing and acceptable to the Gods!
As the candles are lit and the spell spoken, release yourself into the flame, that you also may be purified.
HP: (Lights Central Candle Orange)
Creatures of fire, this Charge I give,
No evil in this Circle live.
Neither Baneful creatures, nor spell work stay,
About this place, not night, nor day.
Hear my will, addressed to Thee,
And as I will, So Mote it Be!
Tool Consecration
WEST: (holding water in receptive hand)
With the power of subterranean streams,
I do bless and consecrate this Water,
Symbol of our Mother’s lifeblood,
That it may serve us in magick and Beauty
In the Temple we are about to erect.
(Continue to hold, visualizing, while HPS blends)
NORTH: (holding salt in projective hand)
With the power of the Dark and hidden places,
I do bless and consecrate this Salt,
Symbol of our Mother’s body, Earth,
That it may serve us in magick and Beauty
In the Temple we are about to erect.
(Pass to HPS)
HPS: (While blending three measures of salt into the water.)
Body and Blood, blended in Balance,
Aid us in cleansing and consecrating this space and ourselves.
So Mote It Be.
Group response:
So Mote It Be.
Consecration of Space and Celebrants with earth and water.
WEST: Walk the Circle, aspersing the Circle and Celebrants.
EAST: (holding Incense in projective hand.)
With the power of the cooling Autumn breeze,
I do bless and consecrate this Incense,
Symbol of our Mother’s breath,
That it may serve us in magick and Beauty
In the Temple we are about to erect.
(Pass to HP)
SOUTH: (holding censer with projective (or both) hands)
With the power of Sun, waning now, yet ever reborn,
I do bless and consecrate this fire,
Symbol of our Mother's spirit,
That it may serve us in magick and Beauty
In the Temple we are about to erect.
(Bring to HP; continue to hold until HPS blends.)
HP: (While blending incense with coal)
Breath and Spirit, blended in balance,
Aid us in cleansing and consecrating this space, and ourselves.
So Mote it Be.
Group response:
So Mote it Be.
CONSECRATION OF SPACE AND CELEBRANTS WITH AIR AND FIRE
SOUTH: Walks the Circle, smudging the Circle and Celebrants.
HPS: (Anoint Celebrants with Samhain Oil.)
HPS: (Banishing)
Spirits of evil, unfriendly beings, unwanted guests be gone!
Leave us, leave this place, and leave this circle
That the Gods may enter.
Go, or be crushed by the sacred mountains of the north!
Go, or be drowned by the Watery Abyss of the West!
Go, or be burned by the eternal fires of the South!
Go, or be torn by the Whirling Winds of the East!
By the powers of the mother Goddess,
And the Father God, So Mote it Be!
Circle Casting
HP:
(First Circle: Covenors visualizing blue mist forming a Sphere as the HP walks, enclosing the Circle)
I weave and empower Thee,
O Sphere of power,
From astral mist and strength of Will
To be a protection and Containment
For the energies which we shall raise within Thee.
(Second Circle: Covenors visualize Standing Stones, rising up from the Earth at the edge of the circle.)
I Conjure Thee,
Circle of Standing Stones,
To be a Division and a Boundary;
Between the world of men and the Realms of the mighty Ones,
An Ancient place for our worship and work.
(Third Circle: Covenors Visualize fiery white light, forming a circle with the Standing Stones making them glow)
I Cast Thee, Sacred Circle,
To be a Temple set apart,
Between the worlds
And beyond the bounds of Time,
A Sacred and powerful place,
For the honoring of the Divine
Without, and within.
CALLING THE DIRECTIONS
EAST:
I call into this sacred space, the powers of East, and of Air, guide our minds to quiet contemplation; lend your protection, and the beauty of your energy!
Hail! And Blessed Be! Invoke Pentacle
Group response:
Hail! And Blessed Be!
SOUTH:
I call into this sacred space, the powers of South, and of Fire, guide our Spirits to reunion with the divine; lend your protection, and the beauty of your energy!
Hail! And Blessed Be! Invoke Pentacle
Group response:
Hail! And Blessed Be!
WEST:
I call into this sacred space, the powers of West, and of Water, guide our hearts to truth and peace; lend your protection, and the beauty of your energy!
Hail! And Blessed Be! Invoke Pentacle
Group response:
Hail! And Blessed Be!
NORTH:
I call into this sacred space, the powers of North, and of Earth, guide our feet as we walk the sacred pathways; lend your protection, and the beauty of your energy!
Hail! And Blessed Be! Invoke Pentacle
Group response:
Hail! And Blessed Be!
HPS: (Pointing Athame blade first up, then down)
As it is Above,
So it is Below,
As it was in the beginning, and shall be until the last star winks out of existence.
The fires are lit, and the circle is cast,
The Temple stands, and the guardians have been called,
The Ritual has begun.
HP: GODDESS INVOKATION
Cerridwen, Triple Goddess, keeper of the Cauldron. We call you this night to be a witness to our ritual of honoring and remembering, to be a bridge to the Divine, and to gently remind us that through your Cauldron of Rebirth, Death is but a new beginning.
We welcome and honor you this night!
HPS: GOD INVOKATION
Herne, stag- horned Dark God of death and rebirth .We call you this night to be a witness to our ritual of honoring and remembering, to be a bridge to the Divine, and t gently remind us that as you die and are reborn, so are we transformed through death, to renew life. We welcome and honor you this night!
HPS:
We stand now, before our Lord and Lady, at a time that is not a Time, in a place that is not a place, on day that is not a day. We stand at the threshold between the worlds, Before the Veil of the mysteries.
HP: We stand in the Astral Temple, a space set apart, beyond the bounds of time and space; where birth and death, joy and
Sorrow meet as one. And we meet in perfect Love and perfect Trust, Remembering always the Wiccan Rede...
COVENER:
Eight Words the Wiccan Rede fulfill,
‘An it harm none, Do what thou Will.
Remember this in whatever you desire,
Whatever you may ask of the Gods. Whatever you would do,
Be assured that it would harm no one, not even yourself.
And ever mind the rule of Three,
What thou sendest out, Returns threefold to thee So that as you give, so shall it return to thee three times greater.
Give of yourself, your love, your life,
And it shall be returned to you thrice over, to your joy and prosperity
But send forth harm, and that too shall be returned thrice over, to your sorrow and desolation.
ALL: So Mote it Be!
READINGS
West: (faces outward, with a tone of farewell) Season of (Lughnasadh
Go with thanks and go with blessing, Season of soul’s nurturing.
Souls with fruit are deeply freighted hearts are healed rejoicing.
As ripened fruit and grain have traveled you have come to Autumn’s Barn.
Forest Lord, whose clearings echo,
Sovereign Lady who has poured, Touch the hidden mystery in us,
Aid us to find Winter’s hoard.
East: (faces outward, with a tone of welcome)
Grandmother Wisdom, open the boor,
Grandfather Counsel, come you in.
Let there be welcome to the ancient lore,
Let there be welcome to the Winter of the year In cold and bareness you are traveling, Under crystal skies you will arrive.
May the blessed time of Samhain Clarify the soul of all beings,
Bringing joy and wisdom to revelation.
From the depths to the heights, From the heights to the depths,
In the Cave of every Soul!
HP: (While HPS lights remembrance candle.)
I am the hallow- tide of all souls passing,
I am the bright releaser of all pain,
I am the quickner of the fallen seed- case
I am the glance of snow, the strike of rain,
I am the hollow of the winter twilight,
I am the hearth-fire and the welcome bread,
I am the curtained awning of the pillow,
I am the unending wisdom’s golden thread
I am the flame of Remembrance.
HPS/ HP: Form an arch east of the altar. Beginning with North (then - west/south/east), Celebrants move deosil, lighting candles from the remembrance candle as they pass the altar, and pass under arching arms of HP/ HPS. Moving spiral around until they return to their own place close to the fire pit.
READINGS AND MEDITATION
HPS: A new Star shines in the night.
It is the joyful twinkle in the Father's eye, There to bring light to the darkness,
To warm and make fertile worlds as yet unborn. A seed in the cauldron of the Universe.
Group response:
Gone to rest in the Father’s nest,
Joined with the Ancients, you are blessed.
HP: A new star shines in the night.
It is a precious jewel in the Mother’s necklace, there to guard and love her,
To join in Her eternal creation of the Universe.
Group response:
Gone to rest at the Mother’s breast, you are magick; we are blessed.
GUIDED MEDITATION (By HPS)
In this Earthly reality, life as we Know it, emerged from the Great Mother of Waters. She is the Sea, the rising and falling of life...
She is the cradle of beginnings, the Cauldron of Cauldrons. And yet She embodies and births all life, regardless of which path is taken.
Stand you now on Her shore, the waves lapping Your feet, the cool salt breeze gently tugs at a light mist, and Carries the distant sound of voices. The mist lifts like a curtain pulled back, and the sea is not a sea, but a great lake, with an island, seen now not far from shore, with a bridge, wide and strong materializing slowly to connect for a time, this sacred space and the Isle of the Blessed. Call to the one you seek, they are there waiting for you. Step onto the bridge, they approach to meet you half way…embrace…share…ask… (Ring bell three times.)
The time is approaching to say farewell... embrace…remember. Walk back down the bridge to this sacred space again. You stand once more on the shore. You wave farewell and blessing, receiving farewell and blessing in return. The bridge dissolves slowly, dissolving, merging with that gentle mist curtain that falls once more. And you stand, once more, on the Mother's shore, the waves lapping at your feet, the cool salt breeze gently tugging the light mist, and carrying the distant sound of voices…
SPIRAL OUT
All stand. When ready, beginning again with North (then East/ South/ West), Celebrants move Widdershins through the arch of HP/ HPS extinguishing their candles as they move past the altar, spiraling outward until you stand once more in your place.
CAKES AND ALE
HPS: (HP holding cakes.)
Dark Lord, we thank you for the bounty of your, season, and the promise of rebirth in the harvest seed. Bless these cakes with your love and wisdom, to nourish our souls as well as our bodies.
HP: (HPS holding Chalice.)
Crone Mother, we thank You for the bounty of Your season, and the promise of rebirth in Your Cauldron of Cauldrons. Bless this drink with Your love and wisdom, to nourish our souls, as well as our bodies.
HP: GODDESS THANKING
Cerridwen, Triple Goddess, Keeper of the Cauldron We thank You this night for being a witness to our ritual of honoring and remembering, for being a bridge to the Divine, and for gently reminding us that through Your Cauldron of Rebirth, Death is but a new beginning. Hail! And Farewell!
HPS: GOD THANKING
Herne, stag- horned Dark God of death and rebirth. We thank You this night 31st. of October for being a witness to our, ritual of honoring and remembering, for being A bridge to the Divine, and for gently reminding us that as You die and are reborn, so are we transformed through death, to renewed life. Hail and farewell!
THANKING THE DIRECTIONS (Extinguish candle after reciting.)
NORTH:
Hail powers of north and of earth,
We thank You for guiding our feet as we walk the sacred pathways, lending Your protection and the beauty of Your energy! Hail! Farewell and Blessed Be! (Banish Pentacle)
Group response:
Blessed Be!
WEST:
Hail powers of West, and of Water,
We thank You for guiding our hearts to truth and peace, lending Your protection, and the beauty of Your energy! Hail! Farewell, and Blessed Be! (Banish Pentacle)
Group response:
Blessed Be!
SOUTH:
Hail powers of South, and of fire,
We thank you for guiding our Spirits to reunion with the divine, lending Your protection,
And the beauty of Your energy!
Hail! Farewell, and Blessed Be! (Banish Pentacle)
Group response:
Blessed Be!
EAST:
Hail powers of East, and of Air,
We thank You for guiding our minds to quiet contemplation, lending Your protection, and the beauty of Your energy! Hail! Farewell and Blessed Be! (Banish Pentacle)
Group response:
Blessed Be!
HP: Take down the triple circle. (Widdershins)
HPS: (extinguish flames)
These flames are a form of energy, which like, all energy, cannot be destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. As we extinguish these flames, we transmute that energy, from the physical flames, without, to the divine flames within. In doing so, we confirm our dedication to the path of light, secure in the knowledge that what we seek we shall find, empowered by the divine flames within each of us.
(Rings bell)
The circle is open, yet it ever remains a circle. Around and around us ever flows its magical energy. May the peace of Cerridwen and Herne go ever in our hearts.
ALL: Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!